AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 326 - Attention
🕑 Added 2023-08-30 18:37:18 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Material Plane - Qil Tris - Year 4369 (Local calendar)
Jan’era’s skill promoting her gave Amdirlain plenty of opportunities to practice Cla’nes's lessons over the next five and a half years. The long healing period required by her legs gave Amdirlain plenty of time to deal with other matters. Her recent set of songs was likely to be her last, with the initial promotions already having her close to her goals.
As the last notes faded away, Amdirlain lowered the microphone and tapped the rune to turn it off. Even before she’d finished the movement, the signal flipped to the host’s stage across the studio from her. With the primary caster now fixed on Al’stri, the sound technician came forward, and Amdirlain quickly handed the microphone over. Tossing his head to get his fringe out of his eyes, the technician set the larger mic aside to avoid enchantment interference and took a discrete pick-up mic from his assistant.
Picking the outrage from the assistant’s mind, Amdirlain let the sound technician have the rope to hang himself, curious to see what the assistant would do. The assistant’s gaze flicked to the overhead boom, getting the nearby audience's reaction, and her lips pressed tight. Jul’iane started forward and only halted when Amdirlain gestured to the clock. As the audience's applause faded, the host started, unaware of the drama out of sight from his stage location.
“That was the artist ‘Am’ in our studio with her latest in a five-year string of hits. Titled 'Honeycomb', it's the first trace released from her upcoming set called 'Ice Spire',” Al’stri’s familiar voice crooned. “We'll be back with Am after this. Now, over to one of today’s sponsors.”
Amdirlain picked up the sound technician's thoughts of success with less-protected guests and decided not to leave it to his assistant alone. Her back already partly to the audience, Amdirlain turned and gestured to the female assistant forward as she shifted the neckline of her silver tasselled blouse. Ignoring Amdirlain’s hint of her continual focus on his assistant, the senior technician still stepped in with the small mic, its rune already aglow.
Amdirlain’s hand blurred, and she turned off the mic before she pulled it from his stunned grasp. Her smile was purely professional, and she handed it to the female assistant to get it set up inside Amdirlain’s blouse.
The screens off to the side showed the broadcast smoothly transitioned between sponsor side stages, where actors and a narrator handled live advertising. They broadcast everything live, like an old radio show where golden-voiced announcers spruiked the latest goods between songs.
When the sound technician signalled Al’stri that Amdirlain was good to go, he started to amp up the live audience for the switch back from the advertising. When Amdirlain strode onto the main stage, giving a wave to the audience, a roar greeted her. Their excitement grew louder when stage fans stretched the fabric of her silvery blouse and pants tight against her gliding form.
[Femme Fatale [S] (136->137)
Note: Sex sells baby!]
“Welcome again to the show, Am,” said Al’stri, and he gave Amdirlain a slow smile that caused Kal’strum’s scent to warm. As Amdirlain crossed the distance to the crescent of chairs, she greeted the other guests, and, finally, Al’stri rose to clasp her hand. “You’ve grown so much; I can’t believe it’s been five years since you first performed for us.”
“Thank you for having me, Al’stri,” replied Amdirlain as she took the seat closest to him under the bright lights. “Though I’m not much taller than when I was sixteen.”
“Perhaps not height-wise, but you’ve grown in so many talented ways,” observed Al’stri.
Amdirlain caught the slightest of whisker twitches and wondered if Al’stri expected all his mates, not just Kal’strum, to peel his fur for his wordplay. After all these years, the antics between Al’stri and Kal’strum were still part of the show's draw.
Amdirlain gave him an innocent smile. “I’m always trying to extend my flexibility.”
“Indeed, that’s been a delight to experience first-hand. Having you regularly is a joy, Am,” purred Al’stri.
He must be looking to get her fired up.
Grinning, Amdirlain caressed the arm of Al’stri’s chair just next to his wrist. Though Amdirlain didn’t touch Al’stri, Kal’strum’s position didn’t give her a clear view. At the sudden spike in sexual tension from her, Amdirlain half expected Kal’strum to run across the stage and vigorously mark her mate.
Amdirlain gave the show’s russet-furred producer standing off stage a teasing glance and felt the audience's anticipation rise at the ‘challenge’.
“Would you tell us where the inspiration for the name of your latest set comes from?” asked Al’stri, jumping straight to the interview with no preamble.
“Wow, Al’stri, not even going to warm me up first,” gasped Amdirlain, and she playfully brought the hand that had ‘touched’ him to her mouth. Though Al’stri’s gaze didn’t shift from Amdirlain’s, the heated scent of his mate practically roared.
“After your performance tonight, I’m sure the audience would agree you’re already scorching,” riposted Al’stri.
“In that case, maybe I should stop for a drink before something catches on fire,” said Amdirlain, and she directed her attention to Kal’strum, blinked shyly, and trailed a finger down the side of her throat. “Kal’strum, having the crew get me something long and wet would be nice.”
Amdirlain's implication that she could give an instruction directly to Kal’strum caused her eyes to flare wide with outrage and excitement. The producer’s musk hit the stage and casters like an explosion.
[Inspire [M](100) -> [S](1)
Power / Skill evolution options detected
Inspiration's Herald
- Skills combines: Femme Fatale [S], Inspire [S], Diplomacy [Ad], Dance [Ad]
Muse's Insight
- Skills combines: Femme Fatale [S], Inspire [S], Diplomacy [M]
Desire's Companion
- Skills combines: Femme Fatale [S], Inspire [S], Dance [S]]
Lust's Archon
- Power combines: Dominion [S], Harmony [S], Femme Fatale [S], Inspire [S], Dance [S], Stimulation [Ad]
Doubt's Blight
- Power combines: Dominion [S], Rebuke [Ad], Femme Fatale [S], Inspire [S], Seed doubts [Ap]
(Note: All the involved aspects decided that your baggage bypasses the Master rank requirement on Seed doubts.)]
Amdirlain almost grunted in surprise but let it slide. The notification jump caused her to wonder how big the show's re-cast links were for tonight’s performance. She’d intended to tease Kal’strum, not send the caster network up in flames.
Al’stri kept a straight face, but Amdirlain could hear his Composure working under the strain. “The critics have debated whether you named your set after the mysterious artefacts and training areas that appeared three years ago or just another of your innuendos.”
No, just some wordplay. Jal’krin and I got people paranoid about triple meanings in everything.
Amdirlain smiled. “I’m not in control of what anyone wants to take from my lyrics, Al’stri.”
“Even with lines like: 'Why does your attention continue to roam?' 'Do your intentions for me only live within my honeycomb?' Are you claiming there aren’t any innuendos involved?” asked Al’stri.
“I had an adorable fan excited that my latest song addressed bees. We both think they’re an entirely underrated part of our ecosystem,” replied Amdirlain.
“Surely you’re not trying to tell me it’s actually about bees,” protested Al’stri.
Laughing, Amdirlain gave him a playful smile. “Life in a hive is complex, but its members put the hive first.”
“Some could say you’re using it to draw an analogy between their bees’ commitment to their hive and roaming partners?”
“I’d hope anyone in a committed relationship would take it seriously,” replied Amdirlain.
“What about the reports that you were in a compromising position with the famous Kadaklan? Reports place you entering his lab the other night, yet only returning to your pride’s apartment at dawn?”
“Do they say how many times we were in and out?" asked Amdirlain, and she let her laughter out, running it caressingly through the audience’s fur. "If spreading rumours brings someone joy, I doubt the truth will get them to relinquish it.”
* * * * *
Amdirlain left the mic on her seat when the show wrapped up. After running her hand up Al’stri’s forearm, she wiggled her fingers and headed towards Kal’strum with a mischievous smile. “Do you want to smell your mate’s scent mingled with mine?”
“You’ve turned into a complete tease,” muttered Kal’strum before she hugged Amdirlain. “Are you coming over this next rest day?”
“We’ll see,” hedged Amdirlain. “We have to talk about some things tonight.”
Kal’strum gave a mock grumble. “How will I convince you to take that marriage spot if you don’t socialise with us enough?”
“Fourth mate isn’t my style, or are you planning to step down as first?” asked Amdirlain with a wide-eyed gasp.
“Maybe I should toss him in and run away with you,” laughed Kal’strum, and her hand brushed Amdirlain’s arm.
“Oh Kal,” breathed Amdirlain, and she added a burst of Charisma. This time, Kal’strum went wide-eyed, and Amdirlain winked before escaping.
The sound technician from before started to head her way, but Jul’iane swooped in and waved him away. The dark section of turquoise fur around her eyes accented the fire in her gaze. “Am left it on her seat. You try to put your hand in Am’s shirt again, and I’ll feed it to you.”
The energetic dancer Amdirlain had first met had turned herself into a honed weapon focused on pushing her limits. Rippling muscles showed under her grey shirt and black pants, even down to the claws poking from her boots being tipped with enchanted silver caps.
“I was just doing my job,” protested the technician.
His assistant stalked over, already glaring at him. “I told you three times it was on the write-up for a female technician. You stepped in only where I couldn’t protest without it being picked up by the stage microphone. Fortunately, she didn’t put up with you. I’m sorry, Am; I’ve already informed our supervisor.”
Jul’iane growled, and Ki, with ice entwined, wrapped around her hands. “You wanted to catch a feel-”
Amdirlain touched a reassuring hand to Jul’iane’s shoulder. “Write it up for Kal’strum; let her deal with him. I’m sure he’s pulled it before successfully; he’s still too confident and smug. I can understand someone being distracted, but that wasn’t your issue.”
“Kal’strum’s going to serve you your balls,” hissed Jul’iane, and she strode after Amdirlain, who was already heading for the sound stage door.
When Jul’iane caught up, Amdirlain gave her a concerned look. “You’re on edge; everything okay?”
“I’m annoyed I wasn’t close enough. It looks better if I stop incidents,” replied Jul’iane.
“Is that the only issue? Or is your training team causing more problems?”
“Too much success; they’ve stopped taking the risk seriously enough,” sighed Jul’iane.
Amdirlain nodded. “You’ve put your enrollment off for two years now. You could get a formal magic education and form a new team later. Or heck, do the dance major you originally planned.”
“Then who’d be your bodyguard slash assistant slash bird chaser,” protested Jul’iane lightly. “You’ve fired enough of them.”
“Only with cause, and those simply better off away from my Charisma,” replied Amdirlain, and she forced herself not to dwell on what others had bribed some to do. That they didn’t know the drugs wouldn’t affect her didn’t make it any better.
Moving through the door, Amdirlain held it open for Jul’iane.
Jul’iane huffed. “The others have the corridor’s ends, but I should go first. You’ve got invites to a few parties tonight if you want to socialise.”
“That’s nice,” sighed Amdirlain before she tapped Jul’iane’s hand. “When did you get that ice effect on your hands?”
“You have sharp eyes,” laughed Jul’iane. “Yesterday’s run, a beast's lair contained a memory shard that showed me how to hold Mana in my Ki.”
“Wouldn’t that need the Ice Affinity?” asked Amdirlain.
“Theory crafter,” grumbled Jul’iane.
“Those of us who can’t do have to live voraciously through those who can. Well, I think holding Mana inside Ki is neat. Come to think of it, I’ve not heard anything like it on the market site,” observed Amdirlain.
“You and your market fetish,” laughed Jul’iane as she took the lead towards Am’s dressing room. “You’ll never go through the complex, yet I swear you know everything ever sold.”
“Maybe to the nearest hundred thousand units. I’ve only got the official market to go on,” disagreed Amdirlain, and she waved to a stage crew looking at her in awe before she ducked inside her changing room.
“You’re too nice to people, Am; I swear it encourages them,” grumbled Jul’iane after she’d followed her inside and shut the door.
“It only takes a moment to acknowledge them, and it can mean a lot to brighten someone’s day,” replied Amdirlain, pointing to the signed films at the end of the dressing table. “Knowing that someone ‘sees’ you can ease so much pain. Do me a favour and tell them there is some merchandise here if they want some.”
Jul’iane shook her head. “I’ll take some out to them, but I’m not letting anyone in your room until you’re clear.”
“Fine, can I use the washroom?” asked Amdirlain questioningly, even as she stepped towards it.
Proximity pulsed out from Jul’iane, stronger than Amdirlain had previously heard the Power in her theme. “No heartbeats, body heat, or unexpected gadgets.”
“You ranked it up if you’re getting devices as well,” gushed Amdirlain.
“Geek. Wash, let's get going. Your stagehand has already moved,” huffed Jul’iane.
Amdirlain laughed, delighted as always by Jul’iane’s mother-hen routine. “I saw their name on their lanyard. I’ll make sure Kal’strum gets them something.”
“We’ll take care of that,” corrected Jul’iane in frustration. “Just give me their name and change.”
“Stop channelling your mum, Jul’iane,” said Amdirlain, and she waved toward the sound stage. “It's not like they’ll charge me if I don’t get out in an hour.”
“It’s more the number of people and your security exposure,” replied Jul’iane.
After getting changed and cleared, it was another hour and a half before her vehicle got within Resonance’s range of the Triumvirate Campus. With the thing beneath it causing reality to screech, Amdirlain pretended to nap while she listened past it to take in the buildings’ details. The vehicle had turned onto the last row of skyscrapers when Resonance’s clarity skyrocketed.
The curtain of the static finally parted to show a multi-level maze of underground passages beneath the campus. Far beneath the Wizard’s tower was a central chamber. Within it were hundreds of loathsome void spawns at various maturation levels, circling a silence that aggressively smothered even their songs that approached.
[Resonance [S] (200) -> [G] (1)
Tier 7 Prestige Class: Youngling Songbird Unlocked!]
Well, shit, I had hoped it was just going to be the stronger skinwalkers left.
Amdirlain grunted unhappily and sat up.
“You get a crick in your neck, old lady?” enquired Jul’iane.
“I’ll leave that to old war cats like you,” retorted Amdirlain.
Jul’iane let loose with a snickering laugh that grew louder when Amdirlain poked out her tongue. “Such a sexy look.”
“Some dream of my tongue, I’m told,” purred Amdirlain, carefully keeping Charisma contained.
The entrance to the underground parking garage unfolded as the driver swung the long vehicle wide and smoothly took them down the ramp.
“I’d never make that turn,” muttered Amdirlain.
“That’s because you don’t know how to drive properly,” chided Jul’iane. “I keep offering to take you out for lessons, but no.”
Amdirlain grumbled. “Like any of my security would let me drive in the city, you’d have a driver up front and me in back with at least one person.”
“You know you could get a bigger place further from the Triumvirate Campus,” continued Jul’iane.
Then I wouldn’t have been able to grind my Resonance so readily.
“I believe you might have mentioned that a few times,” quipped Amdirlain, and the other two members of her security detail that night kept straight faces. “Not that I’ll complain about providing paying work, but why the extra protection tonight?”
“Just some notes that Jan’era’s been receiving,” Jul’iane replied vaguely.
Sitting up properly, Amdirlain's ears twitched, and she gave a sly grin. “More heated marriage proposals? Bad limerick? Oh, were there more nudes? Jan’era seemed to appreciate that last set. You’d have to admit the fellow’s muscles were at least attractive.”
Jul’iane coughed. “No, more like accusing you of being a deity’s avatar. Doomsayer nonsense.”
As Amdirlain giggled, her tail squirmed across the leather of the seat. “Who knows where someone would get ideas like that. Do you think it would increase interest in my shows?”
“You’ve already sold out your tour. These guys were pretty incendiary and threatening, not just the usual rambling of doomsday nuts. They were twisting the security issues we’ve encountered as proof. Said that all the kidnapping attempts you evaded last year were proof of it,” explained Jul’iane.
Amdirlain snorted. “More like proof Cla’nes’s contacts in the Matriarch’s Domain are on the ball. Alright, note to self, don’t take naked walks back from Kadaklan’s lab before dawn.”
“Ma’am, I don’t believe the rumours mentioned anything about being naked,” rumbled one of the security, not taking his gaze from the surrounding garage.
“Now we know they’re a lie,” exclaimed Amdirlain, throwing up her arms.
Jul’iane rolled her eyes. “You like messing with people’s heads.”
Swivelling on the seat to fix her gaze on Jul’iane, Amdirlain pouted. “Delivery not convincing enough? I’ll work on it before I’m asked again.”
Giving Amdirlain an exasperated look, Jul’iane rubbed an ear. “Please don’t; Jan’era will have kittens.”
Amdirlain folded her arms. “Not likely. She needs to find a mate first. I don’t think anyone’s even stayed over in years.”
“Are you going to play matchmaker?” asked Jul’iane, her whiskers twitching.
“Al’stri has a fourth mate spot still open,” quipped Amdirlain.
Jul’iane growled. “I’m going to tell her you said that.”
“What, I didn’t suggest her to Kal’strum!” exclaimed Amdirlain, and her gaze twinkled in amusement at some nearby thoughts. She implanted memories of problems and ominous security personnel, then teleported them near their homes.
Their vehicle stopped directly in front of the lift, and her security detail didn’t have her linger in the garage but got her upstairs and into her apartment.
“I hope this won’t be my life for the foreseeable future,” said Amdirlain as she listened to Sarah rummaging in the kitchen. Despite Sarah's presence and the wards, security quickly swept the apartment before they headed off.
Jul’iane shrugged helplessly and waved as she headed out the door. “We’ll pick you up an hour earlier for tomorrow night’s show.”
“Joy!” cheered Amdirlain.
Ignoring the comfortable couches and detailed artwork in the living room, Amdirlain headed through the door into the kitchen. With its expansive stone counters, polished steel fittings and small dining table, it was easy to pretend it was a fancy Australian kitchen.
“How was your evening?” asked Amdirlain as she perched on a chair at the kitchen table.
Sarah looked away from the ice chest and nodded towards the crystal block near the kitchen’s stovetop. “The low-level static is clear in the last three cities. How did the show go?”
Sitting up straight, Amdirlain punched her hands into the air. “It was fun, and I finally got Femme Fatale upgrades offered. Then to top it off, I’ve pushed Resonance over into Grand Master.”
Sarah gave her thumbs up as she stepped back from the ice chest with beer bottles in her hands. “Feel up to more target practice? Maybe we can round out your night with more of your resistance types setting higher.”
“Gee, hours of being your clay pigeon is such a tempting offer,” replied Amdirlain, and she motioned to herself. “Now, back to what ‘I’ wanted to talk about before you interrupted. I got through the distortion under the campus Wizard’s tower.”
“Alright, I’ll bite. What’s there besides the big bad?” asked Sarah as she set the bottles on the kitchen table.
Amdirlain gently turned one of the glazed clay bottles, her eyes intent on the emblazoned logo. “Among hundreds of void spawns is a deep silence that stops the song behind it from being audible. When focusing directly on it, there is something like an event horizon for the songs that approach.”
Sarah gave a sly smile. “Think you’re strong enough to go up against a Demi-god yet?”
Laughing at the very idea, Amdirlain emphatically shook her head. “Heck no. I was certain it was there, but there is a difference between knowing and hearing it. It's eerie, even with my Mental Hardening. I hear the energy escaping it but can’t hear anything about it directly.”
“We still have the skinwalkers to deal with,” noted Sarah.
“Because they don’t like my bait,” grumbled Amdirlain, and she twisted the bottle’s lid off. ”Not one of them has come near any of the entrances. They’ve even avoided the tempting goods I’ve let the delve teams find; all those traps wasted.”
Taking a swig from her drink, Sarah shrugged. “It's hardly a surprise. They’re smart enough to know the potential for a trap, and we’ve taken out so many others.”
“I’ll imprison the weaker ones and start to adjust more of the graves,” announced Amdirlain. “Explosions where big and nasty is napping aren’t a good idea.”
Sarah pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Are you going to increase the experience tithe you pull in? You’ve gained levels but still have a long way to go.”
“No, so many people are going through those demi-planes; even a tenth of a percent feels greedy,” replied Amdirlain.
“You are going to have to come back here to repair them,” Sarah said, fixing her with a pointed look.
Amdirlain gave her a beaming smile. “Nope, I’m not. I found an answer to that issue based on what the graves are doing. I’ve figured out a conversion for the Mana and experience energy to reinforce the few crystals I needed,” countered Amdirlain. “Once I flip my Prestige Class, I’ll shift the experience tithe into maintenance mode. Speaking of Prestige classes, I got offered a new one with Resonance, so-”
“Focusing on True Song comes next,” interjected Sarah.
Amdirlain huffed. “Fine, I’m predictable, but not quite. I’ll push Pain Eater higher and then focus on True Song.”
“So I have a reason to use you for target practice,” cheered Sarah, and her beer floated as she clapped excitedly. “That is good news.”
“You’re so mean to me,” Amdirlain playfully sobbed.
Spinning her Teleport disc in her hands, Sarah snickered. “That’s rich after what you confessed to doing to yourself. Come on, just one more thin mint.”
Grumbling, Amdirlain headed for the door. “Let me put these clothes in the wash basket first.”
“You’ve developed such mundane habits,” teased Sarah.
“The housekeeper might get suspicious if I don’t have dirty clothes,” countered Amdirlain. “They’re already upset you don’t trust them to do your laundry.”
Amdirlain took her time finishing her drink before she headed off to drop her clothing in the hamper. Aware of what was coming, Amdirlain padded back to the kitchen naked.
Rolling her eyes, Sarah teleported them both to the abandoned base camp. The ground of the nearby field showed no sign of all the live fire exercises.
“Protean disabled, ready to go,” declared Amdirlain.
As white Primordial flames sheathed three cannon barrels, Amdirlain blurred away. Running an erratic course across the grassland, Amdirlain monitored Sarah's control as it tracked her movements. The first bolt missed, leaving a thin, metre-long ditch drilled into the bedrock. Amdirlain tumbled further out of the way, but the next two smacked hard against her shoulder and arm. It didn’t sever her arm this time, but charred flesh. Dodging through the hail of bolts that followed earned her an unsought notification.
[Agile [S] (164->165)
As Amdirlain continued to evade her, Sarah added another cannon to the mix. Close calls and solid hits steadily accumulated damage that pulverised and cooked flesh. Pain Eater calmly kept a tally of the beating she endured.
Ki Movement blazed her from the target zone when her health dipped too low, and Sarah eased off. As Amdirlain restored flesh with Universal Life, her Ki Movement enabled her to outrace Sarah’s shots. Once Amdirlain restored her health, she dropped back to a speed that merely challenged Sarah. Returning to the target zone, Amdirlain kept moving through erratic dodges. Her evasions had Sarah add more weapons until Amdirlain started taking hits again.
A few hours later, Amdirlain got not one, but a few notifications that she was after.
[Primordial [I] (100) -> [GR](1)
Pain Eater [S] (200) -> [G](1)
Immortal’s Fortitude:
- Protean [G], Mental Hardening [G], and Pain Eater [G].
Phoenix’s Rapture:
- Protean [G], Mental Hardening [G], Pain Eater [G], and Angelic Aura [G].]
When Amdirlain teleported beside Sarah, the weaponry wound down.
“Two new power options,” announced Amdirlain as she set to restoring herself with Universal Life. “Though re-levelling them all won’t be fun.”
Sarah nodded grimly. “Whatever it takes to increase your survivability.”
Amdirlain gave a pleased chuff. “Primordial resistance is now in Greater rank,”
As Amdirlain’s Power progressed with restoring her flesh, another notification came.
[Universal Life [S] (110->111)]
“Oh!” exclaimed Amdirlain.
“That sounded like a good outcome,” noted Sarah.
“Universal Life went up; most of its increases come from helping others now,” explained Amdirlain.
“What about the evolution powers? What are they offering?” enquired Sarah.
[Immortal’s Fortitude
Details: This evolution increases the Immortal’s Endurance capability and boosts a being's resistance when active.]
That’s interesting; boosting resistance is nice.
[Phoenix’s Rapture:
Details: Passive healing continues to follow the capacity of Phoenix’s Immolation. Activation of the flame aura enhances physical and magical defences and increases the being’s regeneration rate. The flames no longer harm allies within the aura or the rebirth effect.
Rebirth activation is now accessible once every five hundred years and will cause three times missing health damage to all material and non-allied individuals within the area of effect.]
Moonless night, that’s an upgrade!
“Immortal’s Fortitude and Phoenix’s Rapture,” reported Amdirlain, and she projected the details of the powers.
Sarah frowned. “All these upgrades and experience from the towers is fine but-”
“I know raw power and protection won’t be enough. The skinwalker ripped through the Ki State and Angelic Aura,” accepted Amdirlain, and she gave a helpless shrug. “But it's the only place I’ve got to start, and I won’t just let them keep recruiting and corrupting. You got the last three cities currently calmed down, but we’ve had cities experience a re-emergence of hosts.”
“Yeah, we need to shut them down,” agreed Sarah.
“Since the other distortion is gone, we can finish tracking them cleanly. Let’s prepare a murder board and decide when to strike.”
“You know that murder boards are for solving murders, not committing them,” quipped Sarah.
Amdirlain waggled the tip of her tail. “I’m solving the murders of all the individuals they consumed.”
“Point,” accepted Sarah, and she looked at Amdirlain grimly. “Will you put some clothes on?”
Amdirlain blinked in surprise at Sarah and drew out her shadow vines, the dark green fabric settling around her form. “Sorry.”
Sarah’s lips twitched, and when Amdirlain huffed, she fixed her with a prim expression.
“You’re such a troll,” grumbled Amdirlain.
“Will you decide your Skill upgrade already?” laughed Sarah, and she stroked Amdirlain’s ears. “Still so fuzzy.”
Amdirlain’s ominous growl rumbled in the back of her throat.
Sarah leant forward and bumped her forehead to Amdirlain’s. “Oh, baby.”
The next moment, Sarah was facing empty air, Amdirlain having teleported away.
Comments
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Glenn Wright
My brain was focused on having set up the pieces of the advancement of several things being plausible. I'll use flashbacks while she wraps up her 'affairs'. The scene at the start of this chapter was written a bit ago, and marked with a chapter number - potentially I should have pushed it along a couple.
Luboš Hemala
Good chapter overall :-) I don't like time jumps overly much, 5 years was it? To be honest it threw me off, after the previous almost step by step pacing. I would have expected 1y or 6 months, plenty of unfinished threads. Now I am super curious if we get some things in retrospect or only talked about. But the chapter was cute :-)
